Ticktum earned the right to victory two laps earlier when he won a four-car wide battle in the braking area for the right hand Lisboa corner, moving from fifth to third.

Early leaders Callum Ilott ( SJM Theodore Racing by Prema) and Joel Eriksson (Motopark with VEB ) were eliminated on the third lap when they misjudged a green flag restart and went straight on at Lisboa corner.

Eriksson had seized the lead from pole sitter Ilott but a crash by Marino Sato (Motopark with VEB) brought out a full course yellow flag.

Both Eriksson and Ilott appeared caught out when the race went green and they went off at Lisboa letting Sette Camara though to the lead from Maximillian Gunther (SJM Theodore Racing by Prema), Habsburg and Norris.

Habsburg used the Lisboa braking area seven laps later to pass Gunther and begin a determined pursuit of Sette Camara.

With three laps remaining the two leaders had opened a 6.2second gap on the dual for third place when Ticktum launched his assault.

“I knew exactly where my maximum braking mark was into Lisboa and when the others braked earlier I pulled to the outside with confidence,” he said.

It was a sensational and audacious move and Ticktum slammed across three cars abreast and led up the hill out of Lisboa.

In the lead Habsburg was seriously threatening Sette Camara and on the last corner of the race, in sight of the finish, he pulled alongside and ahead.

Camara fought back and the two cars touched, going off into the wall.

Camara’s car was disabled, but Habsburg recovered, sliding his car down the track on three wheels to claim fourth position ahead of Gunther.

Ticktum has driven in only three F3 races and plans a full F3 season in 2018.